Items filtered by date: Monday, 29 July 2019 - Imphal Times

The incident itself would have caused lot of trauma and disturbance to the children who were sharing the same room with Babysana , no matter whether they had seen or not what had actually happened that night, said a Child Psychologist, who did not want to reveal her identity.

The Child Psychologist at first did not want to give any comment but after Imphal Times insisted here assuring that her identity will not be revealed she somehow shared her idea on what she had experienced.

“See even a grown up is disturb when such incident like hanging happen inside his or her room”, she said. There were incident that people use to perform rituals to clear the fear and trauma in the mind of the family member if any such thing happened. How could the mind of those children who were staying in the same hostel room where Babysana was found in suspicious manner could have stable undisturbed mind. Those children are in urgent need to attend proper counseling for their future career.

Referring to State Police statement which said that all the 36 students who were sharing the same room with Babysana were interrogated one after another, Imphal Times asked her whether they would get a satisfactory reply, the Child Psychologist replied that she is not sure as she felt that police of today are not only unfriendly to children but a terror for grown adult too. Before providing them proper counseling by experts in the field I don’t think it’s proper to interrogate the 36 children. On the other hand she continued by saying that the present uproar over this incident would even more disturb those children.

Meanwhile, many people, while demanding justice for Babysana, also expressed strong concern for the other students of the school including the 36 students whom police had to question them as per the procedure of their investigation. 12 days had gone and it is certain that not only the 36 students but also the remaining students would have had lot of anxiety that diverts them from their academic career.

Either state government makes an alternative arrangement for these children while justice is being delivered or shifted them to another school to assure that the remaining students can continue their study. Having said so the best solution will be to arrest of the custodian of the school, that is the administrator and the principal until the investigation is completed, a social worker told Imphal Times.

Mao Market Open sale is set to begin from tomorrow at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai Community Hall. The sale was initiated by Mao-Imphal Market Coordination Committee. The sale will open twice in a week which will be on Thursday and Friday.

Speaking to media persons, advisor of the Mao-Imphal Market Coordination Committee H. Ibotombi Khuman appealed the people to come and experience the sale which was for the first time opened at Keishampat.

With the non completion of Mao Keithel the sellers finds it difficult to sell their products and also urged the state government to hasten the process of construction of the market.

Concerning about benefits of the Mao market Ibotombi Khuman stressed that the market will make Economic Integrity and interdependency among the people of the land which will also create a bond between the hills and the valley. He appealed the people to take part in it.

Reminding the history he highlighted that due to land disputes at Kojiri with Southern Angami People Organisation, Mao products which were sold on the neighbouring state of Nagaland were not allowed to be sold.

Previously for the first time Mao market was opened at Khwai Nagamapal on July 3, 2015.

He finally appealed the people of the land to come and visit the day sale of Mao Market.

He further said that the clubs and organisation who wants to have Mao keithel at their places can consult to the organisation.

The mysterious death of Babysana is the guiding light for the movement of child rights. This was stated by the former member of Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights at a Mass solidarity meet on Child Rights held today at Keishampat Lairembi Community hall.

He said that such incident was not the first time in the state and added that from 2014 onwards many students died continuously at Hostels.

Pradip further stressed that they have urged the government to make regulatory guidelines for hostel since 2014.

He asserted that the unfortunate incident of Babysana might not occur or could have known the fault at the moment if the government heard their voice to have a regulatory guidelines.

Questioning why the government took much time to notify a regulation he asked the state how much more time they will need to notify the regulation.

Pradip said that the government has not taken seriously and are not committed in making such regulations and added that many law and acts were even made in an overnight.

He also urged to make a holistic approach and a comprehensive mechanism which is an inclusive in making Child’s policy.

Addressing the function General Secretary of DESAM Shital said that the agencies were very irresponsible and such irresponsibility has led to the death of Babysana.

He added that people have realised that hostels were regulated in their own way by the owners just now.

Shital said that they have demanded to make a guideline for the hostels.

The meet was chaired by Chairperson in charge of Manipur Human Rights Commission, Khaidem Mani.

The mass solidarity meet on child rights was organised by Manipur Alliance for Child Rights and Child Rights and You demanding justice for Babysana, enforcing regulatory guidelines for hostel and Manipur Child Protection Policy.

Over 5000 doctors, medical students and healthcare professionals from across the nation today stood up against the National Commission Bill 2019. The entire medical fraternity protested against the bill outside AIIMS followed by a protest march from AIIMS to Nirman Bhawan.“NMC is the worst bill ever introduced to medical education system and unfortunately a doctor health minister is adamant to destroy his own education system. We will not accept this atrocity at any cost. The proposed bill is Anti-people, Anti Poor, Anti-Students, Anti-Democratic and draconian in nature. Medical students being the part of this pious education system have also joined hands to protect our education system and uproot this NMC bill.” said Dr Santanu Sen, National President, IMA.Under the banner of ‘Delhi Andolan’, the march conglomerated at the chaatra sansad with over 7000 medical fraternity and medical students joining hands together against the NMC bill.“IMA has been opposing various clauses in the NMC bill since 2016, and believes that the bill had only undergone cosmetic changes and the core concerns raised by IMA are still unaddressed. Further an addition of Section 32 in the bill, will only legalize quackery by empowering the community health providers to practice medicine, thereby endangering the lives of many people. There has been never been blatant pro rich bias of this intensity. The NMC bill is a pro-private management bill paving the way for widespread corruption.” said Dr Rajan Sharma, National President – Elect, IMA.IMA from time to time has been with the common public health for cutting down medicine prices, boost EWS reservation in hospitals and many more. The agitation against the NMC bill is also the latest example of how IMA is protecting the public health with no personal interest involved.

Coalition Against Drugs & Alcohol (CADA) in coordination with Nongmeibung Ayangpalli Development Meira Paibi Unit 1 staged a mass torch rally at Nongmeibubg Ayangpalli area in Imphal East against drugs and alcohol abuse at around 7.30 pm yesterday. Imphal East District Committee of the CADA organised the rally.

The rally kicked start from the office of the Nongmeibung Ayangpalli Development Meira

Paibi Unit 1 and then proceeded towards Porompat, Soibam Leikai, New Checkon, Konung Mamang and then returned back to the point where they started.

The torch rally carry slogans for abolishing the use of intoxicants and punishment of drug smugglers to safe the future generation.

IT NewsThoubal, July 29, A public meeting was held in Thoubal Mela ground regarding the current situation of Thoubal River. Organised by Thoubal River Conservation Committee (TRCC) and All Thoubal Apunba Meira Paibi Lup (ATPMPL), the meeting was attended by scholars, leaders of various Meira Paibi organizations, students, and residents of Thoubal River banks. The meeting decided that there is no need to regulate manual mining since the river has degraded due to 2 long years of machine mining. Therefore, various decisions were made in the meeting, including banning of any kind of sand and stone quarry even if regulations were made, and conservation of the degrading structure of Thoubal River.

Speaking on the occasion , Jayantakumar said that AYUSH system of treatment is becoming popular now a days and days are gone that AYUSH doctors are treated as second class physicians after recognizing their service. Besides, AYUSH system is now a full-fledged independent unit and the subject is considering to include as a subject of the MBBS students.

“AYUSH and Allopathy are now like brothers as they go together taking help from each other”, the health Minister said. He added that the once upon misconception about AYUSH and Homeopathy Doctors have been changed as their health care service is becoming excellent days after another in saving human life. He appealed the people to give similar respect to AYUSH doctors that people are giving to Allopathy doctors.

The inaugural function was also attended by Dr.L.Promila Devi, Director, Directorate of AYUSH, Dr.N.Jayantakumar Singh, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Thoubal and Dr.Y. Lukhoi Singh, Additional Director also Member Secy. EC of the State AYUSH Society Manipur as dignitaries.

Protesting the Manipur High Court order to stop quarrying of sand and stones from the river beds a sit in demonstration of workers was held today at JNRUM Hall at Kakching Sumak Leikai. The decision of the court has affected the livelihood of the poor workers, according to the protesters. Kha Maikei Apunba Shinmee Lup, which is formed by uniting the workers, has been protesting the order of the High Court and to save the livelihood of the workers whose sole earning comes from sand and stone quarries. A worker who was in the sit in protest said that “it is because of the money they get from quarrying sand and stones from the river beds they are able to feed themselves and provide education to their children. Now due to this high court order that bans quarrying from river beds, it has affected our lives heavily. There is no work they can do and some families at the stage of starvation.”The protestors are asking how long they are going to bear this suffering and they appeal the High court to withdraw this decision thinking about the poor workers.

For now, the brief and promising flirt with ‘unprecedented development’ which was used with much hype and success during the last election and the subsequent emergence of the BJP as a power in the state stands truly over. The internal strife within the coalition ruling party diverting precious time and effort which should have been utilized in improving the governance of the state bears testimony to the fact that the elected representatives of the people of the state has more important and different pursuits than the aspirations of the common man. The mushrooming number of Civil Society Organisations, public groups, clubs and joint Action Committees is the most accurate indication of a system gone dysfunctional to the point that these associations and organizations are felt necessary to try and patch the ever increasing cracks in social administrations and public management. The recent unfortunate death or rather murder of a young student inside the school hostel of Standard Robarth is not a one-off incident nor is it totally unexpected. It is a result of the defunct implementing agencies of the state government failing to take up timely and adequate measures in earnest. It may be recalled that in May of 2014, 26 students who were residents of the school hostel fled the hostel who revealed atrocious acts by the school authorities such as brutal physical beatings, mental harassment and public humiliations for insignificant faults of the students on a regular basis. A press conference was even held regarding the incident at the AMSU office. Unfortunately and tragically, none of the stakeholders in the lives of the students including the parents and state authorities took serious note of the situation and the result is for all to see right now. How many more deaths and murders would it take for the state administration to look into such reports and more importantly, place guidelines and implement measures to ensure no such heartbreaking incidents ever happen again by finding the culprit/s and setting an unforgettable example of swift and tough justice. Another aspect of the state administration that has proven to be an abject failure in light of the unfolding incident is that of the state police and its investigative credentials. The demand by the Joint Action Committee formed on the death of Babysana along with various other supporting civil society organizations to hand over the investigation into the death to the CBI and not the state investigative agencies speaks of the massive trust deficit of the people towards the police and its activities. They are viewed not as protectors of the common man but rather as a symbol of control and intimidation by the government and if this mindset is to be changed or if the state government has the slightest concern to address the declining situation, a long and sustained effort on the part of the state police department and the state government in general needs to be put in. It would not only be impractical but also humiliating for the state services if each and every criminal case is to be referred to the CBI. In order for criminals and potential wrongdoers to take notice of the strict laws and swift actions which will deter them to a great extent, the investigators needs to be well trained and diligent, not to mention the necessity for maintaining a high degree of personal and professional integrity which has been in question till now. Unsolved crimes, unsuccessful prosecutions, unpunished offenders and wrongful convictions have brought the criminal justice system to disrepute and these loopholes needs to be addressed and rectified at the earliest before the whole system is taken over by the increasingly frustrated and impatient public- an alternative and a distinct possibility far worse than anything. The onus is on the government. It may very well disregard the warnings at its own peril.

By “Nachom”, it historically signifies a single or bunch of a few but already identified flowers popularly growing in this land of Manipur and it is adorned mostly by women with placing in between the upper part of ears and nape or braid or on tips of well trimmed hairs. There is still debating on the origin of “Nachom” while it is believed to have introduced during the mythological period of Goddess Nongthang Leima who was taken as incarnation of Goddess Panthoibi and since then it has been popularly worn by women from the time of historical emergence in and after 33 AD and thus it has been a living tradition of Meetei community till today.

It is said that during the time of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba (33 AD) aromatic flowers were used in adorning his consort Laisna’s coronation costumes. The Govinda Nachon today is a popular nachom and it appeared out when the royal families of the Meitei had converted into Hinduism and started to worship Shree Shree Govinda at Govindaji Temple at the Palace of Manipur. This special kind of small posy known as Govinda Nachoms are used to offer adoring prayer to Lord Govinda(Shree Krishna) and Radha every day. These Nirmalas (after-flowers offered at the Lord), are taken as very deeply prestigious to the women. Hindu women are always eagerly waiting for these blessed flowers and used to keep very carefully as things of boon. Whenever they put on this Nachom, they take it as symbol of protection of Lord Govinda even if these flowers are completely dried. Nachoms are generally composed of Takhellei and leaves of Tulsi and sometimes leaves of the plants like Petruklei and Leibaklei.Love, peace, harmony and some other impressive meanings being associated with Nachom such as a fully grown woman’s agreeing or disagreeing to a man’s proposal, reservation, reluctance, joy and freedom, are associated to the traditional use of Nachom. Although “Nachom” is a literary term used to representing a rich tradition coming out as a beautiful cultural facet in times of history of Manipur once an Asiatic tiny nation-state before it entered into the fold of Union of India in 1949 ‘Nachom Tradition’ had been associating so interestingly as indispensable part in the cultural lives of Pakhang- Leishabi (youthful unmarried men and women) representing their states of romantic behaviors but unfortunately this rich tradition has been diminishing day by day in respects of its practice, value and taste in the impact of alien modern material and luxurious things etc.There is popular believe that the use of Nachom was practiced with plays of the Lai Nurabi Taret (Seven Goddesses) and the Laibungdou Mapan (Nine male-Gods) under the instruction of Sitaba Mapu (the Almighty God) as to implement His thoughts for formation of plants and animals including man and woman and corresponding tasks on earth etc. Nachoms were said to have worn by the Goddesses to beautify themselves and to communicate with the male-Gods and others. The same practice is still seen in the present day Lai Haraoba Festivals which was believed to have originated from the above dances of Gods and Goddesses and at which festival the Amaibees (priestesses) do unfailingly wear Nachoms. It is further reflected today in the paintings of most images of goddesses like Nongthang Leima and Panthoibi and others the wearing of Nachoms. And, there is still seen in worshipping of goddesses called “Ima Taret Laikhuramba”(prayer to seven goddesses) and in it there offers seven kinds of fruits and seven kinds of flowers (Heiram Taret Leiram Taret Katpa) with additional seven flowers all red in colours called Lei Angangba Taret that is specially meant for use as Nachoms by the seven goddesses(Lairembees). As Nachom tradition transcends a rich tradition, its use is described by cultural scholars as “ Meina Wai Tangna Sam”.NACHOM COMPOSITION & MEANINGS:The commonly used flowers for Nachoms are the indigenous kinds like Takhellei, Sanarei, Nageshor, Atal Gulap, Khongul Melei, Petruk lei, Leihao, Kusumlei, Tulsi, Chigonglei, Malika, Nageshor and Melei etc. A Nachom is usually made up of a single flower or a bunch of three to five flowers. Atal Gulap (Rose) is used in the “Lai Haraoba” by the Amaibees (priestesses) and in the “Lu Hongba” (Marriage Ceremony) by the ritual singers (isei sakpi sing) and the bride’s care-taker (keina sennabi). In the early “Likon Sannaba”, the spinsters ( Leishabees) wore beautiful and popular Nachoms made mostly of two to three flowers by selecting and combining ones from seasonal flowers in patterns like 1. Sanarei and Takhellei, 2. Petruk lei, Takhellei, and Ambrajita(black) and 3. Single Malika. Interestingly, the Nachoms used by the Leishabees( unmarried young women) were always concerned to their admired Pakhangs (bachelors/ gentlemen) participated in the Likon Sannaba, who all came from different parts of neighboring or distant villages and why it was because the flowers were used by the Leishabees as messengers expressing their minds and used to conveying it to approaching Pakhangs (gentlemen) in the way that during the Likon play while flirtations were all happened in between and among the participated males and women if the woman went out by dropping the flower Sanarei from her Nachom it meant that she accepted the man’s proposal and if not, not. Likewise leaving behind intentionally of other flowers by the spinsters (Leishabees) had been taken as expressing many meanings. And it is described in the following what responses and meanings had been used to expressing in places of occasions and meetings when a woman happened to drop her Nachom lei to letting the insisting and approaching male ; if the woman happened to drop off from her Nachom, 1. Sanarei which meant she was living with parental care taking as Gold (mama mapana sanagum luna touribini) and but leaving behind her such parents she is dedicating herself to the a stranger like him; 2. Kusumlei is meant as the girl’s living under strict parental care (Mama mapana kupsen sennaribini) and not to be approached to; 3. Atal Gulap signifies her Complete Dedication ( Atat akham leitana sinnajare) to the man;4. Takhellei the queen flower of Nachom bears the meaning of freshness, activeness and completeness etc (Taru taruba, mapung fana nungaiba), and it was taken as derivative word from ‘Tek khat Lei’);5. Khogulmellei is taken for expressing the idea of saying the approaching man her real origin and history before settling things of romance ( Khongul hanna Likho);6. Petruklei which indicates living in small and humble position that needs to be cared of by the approaching man( pikna leijabini cheksinna loubiyu);7. Leihao is meant for independence and single not to be sought for anything if being used by girls on single hair’s tip and if it is done by widows (Lukhrabi) indicates her fully believing and still dedicating to her deceased husband and also fully attending to her husband’s family and taking care of her progenies and so not to be interfered by any male for love in its midst;8. Nageshor shows the woman’s living in single with strict integrity and sustainability and not liking to involve in any affairs, and etc etc.In kinds of Nachom, there are Govindagi Nachom, Lai Haraobagi Nachom, Ras Leelagi Nachom, Likon Nacom, Umang Lai Haraobagi Nachom and others. In Govindagi Nachom, which is made up by selecting from among the flowers of Tulsi, Chigonglei, Takhellei, in Likon Nachom, that is composed of mostly by choosing from Petruk Lei, Takhellei, Ambra jeeta, Sanarei or by using single Malika; in and Umang Lai Haraoba Nachom, where it was mostly used of Atal Gulap signifying the user’s total dedication to Almighty ( Atat akham letana sembiba mapuda katthokchare). Nachoms can be adorned in three ways such as (i) keeping it in the ears,(ii) Keeing it in the braid and (iii) keeping them on tips of hairs. Married women put on Nachom on the right ears unmarried ones wera it on the left ears. Nachoms that are kept on ears can be given to others as gifts of love and harmony but nachoms keeing on the top and by the side of the braids (Sambul) cannot be given as gifts. Nachoms can be used by youthful girls to signifying their freedom of living under parental cares.